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Best Dylan Cover?
Posted at 7:43 PM on May 26, 2008
by Mark Wheat
(46 Comments)
As we prepared for the weekend long celebration of Bob Dylan, I realized that I knew many of his songs as covers before I heard his originals. Rod Stewart covers a ton including "Maggie's Farm" that I always thought was his song, as it seemed to fit Rod so well. Manfred Mann introduced me to "The Mighty Quinn," Eric Clapton to "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." I thought "All Along The Watchtower" was Jimi's, and the consensus seems to be that Bob himself was made famous by The Byrds cover. Remember he came along before it was 'normal' for the songwriter to sing their own songs, in popular culture at least. It's incredible that an artist who is so famous for his unique writing style and delivery, is so often covered so well!
After reconsidering his originals over the weekend, let's decide which Dylan cover is the best. Vote in our poll or if you think we've missed another that should be included please post your comments.
Deciding to do a poll meant narrowing it down, which was tough. Over the weekend I finally got to see "I'm Not There" and that made me realize again what a great song writer he is. The soundtrack contains many good covers from different artists able to do justice to his songs. In the movie the voice of Mason Jennings was prominantly featured and Cat Power's cover caught my ear and held it, as strongly as Kate Blanchett's performance held my eye, she was the highlight. It also seemed appropriate to include a local choice too and I've had many calls after playing Cloud Cult's Version of 'T Man' so I had to include that;
Comments (46)
Rod Stewart covering Maggie's Farm is pretty terrifying (or amusing -- fine line, that). I think you mean the stupefyingly mediocre "Maggie May" which, thank the Lord, Dylan had nothing to do with.
Lester Bangs did a good piece on "Maggie May" once upon a time.
"When I Paint My Masterpiece" covered by The Band is really good! The Redwalls also covered it when I saw them in concert, and they said we were pretty cool in their book if we'd heard this song. :)
"You Gotta Serve Somebody" covered by Shirley Caesar (at the Kennedy awards)- stellar. (Standing ovation from Dylan himself..)
I caint believe you would put Bob Dylan in the same sentence with Guns and Roses....idiot
From A Buick 6 by Richmond Fontaine
No Grateful Dead covers :(
While a lot of the covers are good- there ain't nothing like a song-writer performing the songs they penned. But Hendrix's Watchtower is different enough to be pretty much his song with Dylan lyrics- a winning combination!
How about IT'S ALL OVER NOW , BABY BLUE by the great Link Wray?
Lot of Brian Ferrys covers are really good. But nothing is
ever going to match Jimi Hendrix All along ...blabla
The breakthrough song for Dylan was Peter Paul & Mary's version of Blowin' in the Wind, several years before the Byrd's covered Mr Tambourine Man. Please do some research first next time instead of relying on memory to pull you through.
The metal rap version of "Highway 61 Revisted" by Mountain.
for once I seem to have joined the majority..no real contest...Hendrix stripped the song down and rebuilt the whole thing
Oh, c'mon! "Farewell Angelina" sung by Joan Baez.
Best Cover BY FAR I know of is found on Masked and Anonymous. "Most of the Time" performed by Sophia Zelmani. Will leave you weak at the knees and people who have never heard it will tell you to turn it up and those who know it will tell you to "oh start that over".
The Stones=Like a Rolling Stone and Highway 61 by Johnny Winter
Baez also did a kick-ass job on "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue."
I think that Hendrix's take on "Like A Rolling Stone" is every bit as good as "...Watchtower". I also like Rage Against The Machine's version of "Maggie's Farm". The Replacement's attemt at "...Rolling Stone" is pretty cool, too. P.J. Harvey did a kickass version of "Highway 61".
spelling + punctuation = F.
Tomorrow is a Long Time covered by Elvis
FOREVER YOUNG, or LOVE IS JUST A FOUR-LETTER WORD by J. Baez.
The best cover of a Dylan song by many miles is `It's All Over Now Baby Blue' by the 13th Floor Elevators (On their `Easter Everywhere' album.
Most of the Time by Sophia Zelmani gets my vote, followed closely by Mr. Tambourine Man by William Shatner.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Rod Stewart's association with "Maggie's Farm" begins and ends with "Miss Judy's Farm," which he wrote with Ronnie Wood and opens "Nod ..." The track is clearly an ode to Dylan's earlier masterpiece.
How does one who didn't even know that two of Dylan's most famous works - "Knockin'" and "Watchtower" - were Dylan originals have the authority to compile a list of best covers?
My vote would have to be for Nina Simone's version of "I shall be released' with the Band's version coming in a close second... Nina's version is incredibly soulful and Richard Manuel's falsetto gets me everytime
The best cover of Maggie's Farm out there has got to be Toots Hibbert's version on the reggae tribute 'Is It Rolling Bob?'. Just his phrasing will get you way high mon.
I AM an idiot!!
But not for mentioning G'n'R in the same breath as Bob, lighten up Tom!!
Thanks to Ken for clearing up my "Maggie's Farm" confusion. But I like the idea that Wilson had of mixing it up with "Maggie May"! At least Allmusic.com says of Rod's 'Gasoline Alley' album; "his interpretation of Bob Dylan's "Only a Hobo" is one of the finest Dylan covers". And when I was a young lad I knew a lot less about music than I do now, and that's when I was talking about being introduced to Dylan's work by others. Should have known better than being the Brit trying to pay homage to the venerable bard of MN.
But thanks to everyone else for joining in the spirit of the celebration! Apparently so far there is no consensus that I picked the wrong songs to vote on is there?
"Lonesome death of Hattie Carrol by Christy Moore as seen on Youtube?
My favourite is "Man In Me" as done by the Clash.
Here's a couple of replies that came to my inbox;
"Hey Mark- Nice topic for the blog, but seriously, you have to acknowledge Ministry's cover of Lay Lady Lay! By far the best in my book. Cat Power? Please:)
Have a great eve and thanks for being so great at what you do for the Current!
Kimberly
Minneapolis
Another Mark said; "George Harrison doing "If Not For You" off All Things Must Pass. " Which was anopther song that i knew in my youth and wasn't aware of it being Dylan, seems he has crept up on me over the years!
How about Percy's Song by The Fairport Convention.
They also do a very good version of Million Dollar Bash.
The Indigo Girls covered Tangled up in Blue a few years back on their 1200 Curfews album. It is such a beautiful, feminine take on my favorite Dylan song... That cover has stayed with me through the past decade as my favorite cover.
Melanie - Mr. Tambourine Man
Hauntingly beautiful.
The list of 5 is made up by an idiot indeed, G&R - puke, Cat Power, she's alright but not her uninspired Mobile, Blowing In The Wind on Neil Youngs Weld comes to mind as highly original.
Dave Matthews Band
All Along the Watchtower
hendrix definitely followed by love sick by the white stripes!
Sebastian Cabot - "It Ain't Me, Babe"
I always liked Joan's version of Farewell Angelina.
You'd be better off writing about things that you had some knowledge of.
"Just Like a Woman" from the the glory days of Joe Cocker.
How about that whole Coulson, Dean, McGuinness , Flint album, Lo and Behold?
What about Van Morrison with Them doing "It's all over now baby blue"? One of the few (like Jimi's watchtower) that's possibly better than Zimmy's.
Wow, has no one said Highway 61 Revisited by P.J. Harvey, on her Rid of Me album???
Thanks to all who voted, it wasn't even close!
I have seen other polls suggesting that 'Watchtower' is the best cover of anyone ...EVER!?!
It was great to play a set full of covers suggested by you, Daphne, Mark and Frank & Ralph, who were the only ones to suggest the same song, with Joan Baez.
Another great set, created by you, thanks for listening!
I still don't understand why this station refuses to acknowledge the impact the Grateful Dead has had on music. As far as I know Bob Dylan never toured with any of the 5 on this "list". He did tour and record with the Grateful Dead. Bob Dylan also has been known to cover a few Dead songs. Some versions of "Masterpiece" by the Dead are simply gorgeous. Of all the snubbings this band has been subjected to by the Current I think this is the most obscene.
The Eddie Vedder version of Masters of war may be the greatest cover period. Talk about a guy singing it the way dylan wanted it sound
If Bob Dylan had the power to take back anything he's done in his life - and he probably does - No. 1 on the list would be the highly forgettable tour with the Dead. That just sucked the life right out of him for awhile. I'm just happy he was able to bounce back stronger than ever.
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